Defense chief: US sailors made navigational error in Iran

Associated Press

Published 9:55 am, Thursday, January 14, 2016

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This picture released by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, shows detained American Navy sailors' boats in custody of the guards in the Persian Gulf Iran. Less than a day after 10 U.S. Navy sailors were detained in Iran when their boats drifted into Iranian waters, they and their vessels were back safely Wednesday with the American fleet. (Sepahnews via AP) less

This picture released by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, shows detained American Navy sailors' boats in custody of the guards in the Persian Gulf Iran. Less than a day after 10 ... more

Photo: Uncredited

Defense chief: US sailors made navigational error in Iran

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MIAMI (AP) — Defense Secretary Ash Carter says it appears a navigational error caused Navy boats to stray into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf where they were detained overnight by Iran.

In an interview Thursday with Univision, Carter said based on information commanders have provided, the boats accidentally strayed into Iranian waters due to a navigational mistake. Less than a day after being detained, the sailors were back with their American fleet.

Carter says the sailors were not on a covert mission and were simply making their way from Kuwait to Bahrain, both on the western coast of the Gulf.

Defense officials say it remains unclear if the crew made a mistake or if the navigational equipment was to blame for the incident.